The Unorthodox Aerial Rapture of Stab High – The inaugural air-based event in Waco, Texas proves that there’s something to be said for both aerial competition and events beyond WSL jurisdiction

Hearing Martinez plainly criticizing surfers for doing boring, stock-standard airs, or joke about how he has no clue what a certain trick should be called, but that he knows whether or not its any good, or suggest Jay Davies should get “a mulligan” due to his large size set a tone that many probably didn’t even realize we were missing in pro surf commentary.

Stab High was essentially an air show in the Waco wave pool, using a hybrid leaderboard format to crown the most progressive aerialist of the day (a title Noa Deane claimed, collecting a cool $25k in the process.

Having surfers know what they need, and, thanks to the pool, know that they are guaranteed one last Hail Mary attempt instead of just crossing their fingers and staring at the horizon, meant that we got to see some of the most progressive aerialists getting as weird as possible above the lip in the hopes of cracking into the leaderboard’s top slot.

Dion Agius had a friend use a leash and tote bag to lower his headphones into the water so he could get pumped up on some heavy metal tunes before his next wave, pro skimboarder Blair Conklin was allegedly drinking margaritas before his heats (in which he rode a soft top) and Noa Deane ended his victory speech with “Let’s get maggot”.

The format featured two qualifying rounds with each of the 20 invitees getting a shot at four lefts, four rights and one bonus wave, direction of their choice.

The top six surfers on the leaderboard after the bonus wave advanced to the final, where each got another four lefts, four rights and another bonus wave.